The chief medical officer (CMO) purchased insecticides worth `48.45 lakh
in 2009-10 as part of programme.
Despite tall claims by the BBMP regarding fighting the mosquito menace, Bangaloreans have little respite from the nocturnal drones and bites of mosquitoes. The BBMP claims that in its fight against mosquito menace, it has spent around `2.25 crore in various divisions (as per RTI documents available with DNA) between 2009 and 2012.
However, Dr Geetha Shivakumar, chairman, standing committee on health, BBMP, said the amount spent to fight the mosquito menace, passed the buck and suggested that Dr MN Lokesh, health officer (south), BBMP, should be contacted as he was in-charge of mosquito control programme.
Regarding measures to control mosquitoes, Shivakumar said: “We have taken lots of measures. There are three people for each ward to spray a larvicide, temephos, to eradicate mosquitoes.”
When it was brought to her attention that there are many complaints regarding BBMP’s failure to spray temephos or fumigate neighbourhoods, she said those assigned to spray temephos have to report to the corporator of the respective ward. “It is not advisable to conduct fogging on daily basis. It will affect children and senior citizens. But residents complain that BBMP has not taken measures to carry out fogging,” she said.
As per the RTI documents, the chief medical officer (CMO) had purchased (through floating a tender) insecticides worth `48.45 lakh in 2009-10 as part of mosquito control programme. They were meant for distribution in the BBMP’s 198 wards.
However, various BBMP divisions, too, carried out their own mosquito-control programmes. When the CMO purchased insecticides, where was the need for these BBMP divisions to spend every year on mosquito control? Dr Lokesh said the entire amount was not spent by these divisions only on buying insecticides. The expenditure includes purchase of equipment and the salary for the employees engaged in spraying.
Dr Lokesh said acute shortage of water is one of the reasons for the mosquito menace. Most residents store water in plastic cans that are not covered. These cans breed mosquitoes. House-owners store water in sumps for more than a week. “I advise them to clean the sumps once in a week and keep it open for some time to prevent breeding of mosquitoes,” he said.
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